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I'm shoping around for a new car, and right now I'm pretty much set to buy a Rodeo Sport/Amigo 2001. I based my choice mainly on parameters like engine power, mpg, reliability and, ahem, safety. I'm looking for a mini/mid-size SUV that will be able to do 0-60mph in under 8 seconds preferably, or maybe 8.5-9 at most. I've read the crash test reports on Rodeo and Amigo, and seems like Amigo is actually a bit safer than Rodeo. Still not as safe as other cars, but I guess there's a tradeoff here: if you want high degree of protection, the car has to be made heavier or with better materials (look how BMW X5 and Lexus are rated....good across the board, but can you afford a 50K pricetag?).
What I'm asking is this: being Rodeo/Amigo owners, would you advise to buy the car? I dont have a lot of time I could spend at a mechanic fixing the car all the time. (I realize that every car has to be fixed sometimes, but it doesnt have to get ridiculous, like with my Blazer '93, which requies a $500 repair once a month). I wold be willing to make certain modifications to the car to improve safety (is there a fix for possible rollover on sharp turns/lane shifts? Dealer recommends getting the Ironman package, with Intelligent Suspension System). If you dont recommend this type of car, what would you recommend instead?
Thank you very much,
Andrei
Just wanted to find out which has the most reliable data for Safety Test for Vehicles;
IIHS-HLDI (Insurance Institute Highway Safety-Highway Loss Data Institute) or NHTSA
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ??...
On the IIHS-HLDI.... The Isuzu Rodeo 2000 is rated as Poor
While in the NHTSA .... The Rodeo is rated 2000 Good/Safe
Let's talk about the abs. The function of abs is to release the pressure on the brake(s) that is connected to a tire(s) that has stopped spinning, or are spinning at a lesser rate of the other wheels. If the abs turns on too much, then either your tire pressure is too high (smaller contact patch), or possibly your shocks are shot,or your tires are worn too much (the softer 'wear' tread is gone).
side note: I had the same abs problem on my '94 honda accord lx/abs. I dumped the oem michelins. In winter, steel studded 'snow master' tires on all fours. Summer time, cooper cobra's on 15x7's. On dry pavement in the summer time the abs will not turn on (real phat contact patch). Winter time, the car stops, ever see a suv/truck go sliding sideways past you @40 while you are stopped at a stop light on a steep hill (going down)?
back to the issue:
I have had the abs turn on when I hit a big pothole (pretty common in Mass) when trying to stop. The stock/oem bridgestones, aren't exactly my choice of suv tire, but get this, they are wicked quiet and ride pretty good.
I personally would recommend the 2000/2001 rodeo/sport,but if a family is in the near future, get the 4dr. (I'm in the same boat). You can't beat the warranty or the price. Test drive the others, pathfinder, durango, 4runner, xterra, explorer, I did.
The rodeo isn't the greatest in real off roading, but for the times when you need the 4 wheel drive (let's see the last storm we had... 19" of snow) it's works flawlessly.
Granted the rodeo is not a 100% refined vehicle, it won't ride like a caddy, it won't beat a corvette of the line, it doesn't handle like a porshe. ITS A SPORT-UTE!!
(reading some of the messages that others have left, makes you wonder..) The rodeo does what it was made for extremely well.
You may have problems with the vehicle, as like any other vehicle, check out the recalls and technical service bullitens from the nhsta.com site. Look up your other choice vehicles, see what the track record is. ( I did all this, you'll find the same conclusion I did, go get a rodeo.)
Find a good dealer. call the better business bureau in your area and find out which dealers have complaints against them. When 'wheeling and dealing', don't be afraid to walk out on the sales person, especially if the pressure is on, and 'no' doesn't work. I beat the edmunds tmv, figure the options and what not. but would have been happy at the tmv.
Hope this helps.
Later
Nate
with no problem. I check the underbody regularly for leak but no thing so far. I just changed my shock to Monroe Matic-Plus. I read/research about Edelbrock IAS, Rancho RSX and Monroe
Reflex. Since the last two are not available for the Rodeo yet so I decided to go with the Matic and wait until the Reflex becomes available. I had A1-shock here in Houston installed at $16.95 each and $35 installation. The truck has more control now. It does not bounce up and down over large hilly surface. I can drive twice the speed now on the bumpy road that I use to drive everyday. I would not dare to drive any faster before. For harshness over bump, at first it feels almost the same as the stock but now it is definitely softer as the shock settle/wear down. I just regret that I did not change it sooner. For the price and warranty, it's hard to beat the Rodeo.
can anyone give the details about the rodeo and if i am better off leasing or buying one? The dealer i went to was trying to lease a supped up l;s (had everything except leather) for 351 and had a brand new 2000 (with sunroof, otherwise same as above) that they would only finance and were going to sell it for 21999 after rebates. what is my best bet here or should i be looking in another direction altogether?
i'd appreciate any help you can give me.
I had a '97 that went 120K miles w/o seeing the dealer for anything. Now I have an '00 Trooper.
-mike
-mike
-mike
Since day one, there have been little issues -- so many days spent in the service dept. at Isuzu's dealership.
This leads me to a discussion, I'm NOT bashing the Rodeo (i don't mind mine so much anyways) -- what do you all consider when you compare the Rodeo with the superior (in terms of build quality) Pathfinder, and perhaps a Jeep or something?
Actually, forget the Jeep, just consider the Pathfinder and other japanese built SUV's.
thankx
-mike
"We recommend taking a close look at some of the other small SUVs on the market and going on a few test drives before settling for this warmed-over Amigo."
link
Steve
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
http://www.edmunds.com/roadtests/longtermroadtests/1998/isuzu/rodeo/44037/index.html
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
I am in the market for a new SUV. Have been considering Rodeo, Tribute, Escape, Exterra, and vehicles $20k to $25K. I really like the rodeo, and I hear Isuzu is running a special this month 0 down and 0% interest for 60 months. This sounds to good to be true? I am wondering if this means the dealers are not going to come down off of their sticker prices? Also, had been quoted around $23,500 for 2001 LS 2WD in Louisiana. I really would like to get a 4WD and wanted some advice on a good price for an LS 4WD and advice on the 0% interest, or at least what loop holes to look out for? Thank you for the help.
post this over in the owner's club area, they'll give you tons of info.
-mike
Edmund's just bashed the heck outta the new Rodeo Sport. Most of the symptoms they spoke of I can totally relate to in my '98. I don't like the braking at all on the Rodeo. They still haven't fixed that ABS problem which can be very deadly if it occurs at the wrong time! I hope you are all aware of this, and have test-driven your Rodeo and slammed on the brakes over bumps and in wet conditions -- ugh, what a nightmare. Plus, the stopping power and the brake fade is another problem -- you really have to MASH on the brakes to get this puppy to stop sometimes. Another thing is the suspension, it is way too mushy, and the nose-dive upon sudden braking is ridiculous. Not to mention, after you drive the car for about 20K miles, you may, as many Rodeo owners do, begin to hear all these squeeks and squawks and shudders from the cheaply fit interior dash and paneling and the underbody. Ugh. I know this isn't a forum for my grievances, and I do love the responsiveness of the engine, the smooth transmission .. and the good looks .. and it's 4-wheel drive performance, but...
For those of you who own recent model Rodeos, how do you like the brakes, and do you notice a low-end "thud" from the drive-train as you come to a slow stop and then as you slowly accelerate from a stop?
Also, check our www.suv.com .. under the Rodeo owner's forum.
DC HOPP
answering a few questions:
wind noise, yeah a little bit, about as much as my '94 accord.
if you have excessive wind noise move the crossbar on roof rack back a couple of inches.
I like the brakes, the abs works decent enough, although I would have picked a better tire than the oem bridgestones.
No thud from the tranny, but one of the ones I test drove did have a thud.
I really like the push-button 4x4, it made it through 18" of snow without complaining.
Price/options: ls, 4x4 auto,6 disc, hood protector (lexan), alloy rims, luggage mat and net, no sunroof. tire on the rear door.
paid $24,6 with my financing.
Current deals in the northeast, 0.0% financing for 60 mon.
took delivery in october '00, have no problems.
Later
Nate
On the Axiom, there is pushbutton or actually a rotating knob that does TOD/4wd Hi, and 4wd Lo and 2wd. No levers at all.
-mike
Thanks,
Andrei
why the manual tranny?
I personally like a manual tranny, my accord is a stick. I am very pleased with the automatic in the rodeo. It's very smooth and shifts where it needs to be. The overdrive works very well. I would reconsider the need for the manual. The towing capacity for the automatic is 4500lbs 'out of the box'.
Thanks.
Some feel that the abs doesn't work as well as it should. Try the abs yourself, get a test drive from a dealership and find a parking lot with some sand. Give it a whirl. I have a 2000 rodeo ls 4x4 and haven't had an issue with it. Yes, as will increase your stopping distances when the traction is lost at the tire(s). But that is what is it supposed to do. What would you rather have, the abs turn on, with the vehicle going straight, still able to maneuver, or have a tire lock up and possibly spin the vehicle out of control?
If the abs turns on, push the pedal harder.
When I bought my '94 accord (new) it has abs. It was the first vehicle that I had owned with abs. At first it took a bit getting use to it. In snow, the origonal tires (michelin xt4) would not stop the car. I switched to studded snow tires, and the car stops, just short of launching me through the windshield.
If the rodeo has a problem, there would be a recall. Remember the GM recall about 2 years ago for the abs? (mainly jimmy's and blazers)
Hope this helps.
So as far as I can tell the true dealer cost is $28,462 with the holdback subtracted, but I was able to talk them to letting me have it for $28,100 plus a $200 "dealer prep" charge, while still allowing me to use the 0% financing. Am I missing something here? Did I miscalculate their cost? Should I have been able to negotiate cheaper?
Even though it seems like it's within their dealer cost, it seems steep for a Rodeo LS even with these options, but the Ironman package is exceedingly more difficult to find anymore, and I feel pretty lucky to have found this one in the black color I wanted. So should I get it? Any input would be appreciated.
Honda drivetrain warranty is NOT 10 years but feedbacks reveals that ISUZU gives their customers a run-around when they deserved warranty coverage and the aftersale services were mostly horrible.
-mike
-mike
Will I need to put Monroe Matic shocks on if it has the intelligent suspension system, or can I even do that?
Also, what can I do before buying that can assure me that the warranty will be honored. Someone had suggested getting it in writing that they will fix any rattles, squeeks, or excessive wind noise before agreeing to buy it. That seemed like a good idea. What else should I be wary of, or try to ask for before buying?
-mike
I have tried the intelligent susp. on a short trip and the ride is evidently SOFTER on bumps and dips while eliminating too much bouncing and brake dives and axcess tendency to lean when cornering compared to the OEM shocks.
However, reviews on it indicated that it's too soft and bouncy (?) on really rough trails.
The monroe matic that I used is not as soft on big bumps than the intel. susp but aside from that, the difference are not obvious to me (IMHO).
I still think, you'll be happy with the intel. susp because it's very comfortable especially on long drives.
I don't have answers to your other questions.
Get the '01 lse instead of the '00. You'd be doing them a favor if you bought the '00. For pretty much the same money, you'd know where the first 5k miles are going to be.
The isuzu web site is pretty good on stating what isuzu covers under warrantee. (actually I think it is the only car manufacturer that puts that stuff in English).
I have had no problems with my '00 rodeo (except for the ce light when the gas cap wasn't tightened).
If the dealership really wanted to get the '00 off the books, they would wheel and deal. Offer them $18k and see if the throw you out.
I believe this is fixed on 2001, as I did try it on the snow, wet rout and it perform very well
And anti lock works just fine.
Andrei
-mike
thanks
-mike
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/96004.htm
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/00014.htm
Here is the entire overview of all of the SUVs that the IIHS has tested:
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_midsuv.htm
While this is only one aspect that you should consider WRT safety, the test is a good indicator of the strength of the vehicle's structure and the safety cage in a severe accident:
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/offset.htm
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/def.htm
Hope this helps a little in your search!
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards